Discover a Quiet and Peaceful side of Kyoto
Located on the west bank of the Katsura River and originally a villa of the Hachijo-no-miya family, the Katsura Imperial Villa is a strolling-style garden featuring a pond surrounded by palace buildings and four teahouses, offering scenery that changes with the seasons.
Location
Keishun-in is a sub-temple of Myoshin-ji (a Rinzai Zen temple) in Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward, renowned for its four gardens, tea room, and sliding door paintings by Kano Sansetsu. When I visited, the rain had just stopped, making the moss in the gardens look particularly vibrant.
Location
In front of the Shinden Hall lies a stone garden of white sand, featuring a *Tachibana* orange tree on the right and a plum tree on the left.
Location
Daikaku-ji is the head temple of the Daikaku-ji branch of the Shingon sect; originally an imperial villa belonging to Emperor Saga in the early Heian period, it was later converted into a temple.
From the Main Hall, one can enjoy a view of Osawa Pond. Visitors can also view sliding-door paintings by artists of the Kano school and others in buildings such as the Shinden and Shōshinden.
It is a tranquil place with many sights to see.
Location
At Daisen-in, visitors can enjoy matcha tea for an additional fee.
You can also view famous sliding door paintings by the Kano school, although photography is not permitted.
Location